Improved wire bale-fastening



EVSL ENOXI WIRE BALE FASTENING.

No. 98,169. Patented Dee. 21, 1869.

iitlnitml swat strut (Militia.

Letters Patent No. 98,169, dated December 21, 1869.

IMPROVED WIRE BALE-FASTENING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and rnaimi part of the same.

I, EDWIN S. LEXOX, of New Brighton, in the county of Richmond, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Wire Bale-Tie Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'that class in which the fastening-device is formed of the ends of the wire which constitutes the band or tie for securing bales of cotton, hay, and other material.

Figure 1 represents my improved fastening-device, shown disconnected.

Figure 2, the same, the parts being connected as when in use.

Figure 3 is a modification of the same device.

My invention consists'essentially in forming upon one end of the wire aneye or loop, B, of elliptic, ovoid, or curvilinear l'orm, amLupou the opposite end a crosshead, formed by turning the end of the wire back upon itself, and twisting the two parts togetheiyand t-hen flattening or compressing the eye transversely, until it assumes a T-f'orm, as shown at O, lig. 1.

The transverse diau'ieter of the loop B, at its greatest point, is sutlicient to allow the cross-head O to pass freely through it, but when the two ends are drawn in opposite directions, as when applied upon a bale, the end A is drawn into the narrow extremity of the loop B, through which the head cannot pass, thus forming an efiectual look, as shown in fig. 2.

This forms a very simple and strong connection, the two shoulders c 0 bearing equally against the smaller portion of the loop B, so that a resisting power equalling the tensile strength ofthewire is obtained,

A single piece of wire, f, may be substituted for the flattened loopor cross-head, by coiling the band'A around it, and seeming the end by twisting upon itself, as shown at 3, though I prefer to employ the form before described, which is simple, and easily made, and possesses all requisite strength.

This fastening may be readily and cheaply made,

and is very easily applied, by passing the T- part through the loop end, when the tension upon the band insures its immediate and permanent connect-ion, and it can be disconnected without injuring it, so that it is capable of repeated use.

Asthe strain exerted by the bale upon the band is very considerable, rendering it impossible to further compass it by hand sufficientl y to disconnect the two parts of the fastening, that is accomplished by giving, with the pliers or other convenient instrument, a quarter turn to the head 0, so as to place it transversely of the plane of the loop B, when the tension upon it draws it through the recess d, instantly releasing the connection, but leaving the parts in condition for subsequent and repeated use.

The degree of flexibility which the wire retains when formed into the hoop and head in this mauner, admits of thus readily connecting and disconnecting the tie repeatedly, while it also secures the additional advantage of yielding measurably, by the elongation of the loop, when there is. an excess of strain upon one of the bands, as often occurs by means of the inequality of the bale, or irregularity in size of the slats used, thus equalizing the strain upon the whole.

I do not claim a wire bale-band and fastening, composed of a single piece of metal; nor doI claim a fastening, composed of a hook and loop, for these I know to be old; but

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V A wire bale-band, formed at one end into the loop B, with its recess 1), and at the other with the crosshead C, when said parts are constructed, combined, and operated as and for the purpose herein set forth.

EDWIN S. LENOX. Witnesses:

KATE N. J ones, JOHN A. WIEDnRsnmM. 

